Measuring system



March 7,1939. M, FOX f 2,149,958-

MEASURING SYSTEM Filed April 11, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l March 7, 1939. M. FOX 2,149,958

MEASURING SYSTEM Filed April 11, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet 2 l Illlllllllllllllllllllllz HAM A A A llllllml uuumlnmmm A NNWNNw 1 1g: 5 VENTOR.

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BY I 1 314 ATTORNEY.

March 7, v I FOX MEASURING SYSTEM Filed April 11, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. I I arv'z'n Joan:-

IBY ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 7,1939 I I p MEASURING SYSTEM Marvin Fox," New York, N. Y, Application April 11, 1938, Serial No; 201,315

coleims. (01:33-423) This invention relates to improvements in derespective light sources, likewise electrically in vices and methods for measuring the areaof parallel at thesame time. 7 w irregular objects such as sheet material, in the On the floor l5 of the base section are mounted nature of hides, skins and the like. A in spaced relationship a series of lamps l6 Broadly, it is an object of this invention to grouped to form lamp banks c'and d, the lamps 5 provide a system for measuring irregular surface in each bank being electricallyconnected in par,- areas such as that of. skins, hides or the like, allel, and the banks being connected-in 'parallel wherein a plurality of photoelectric cells each in across feed line l'l'leading froma source of curassociation with a separate source of light, are rent; the lamp banks cari'd'd being connected 10 balanced as to electrical eilects developed thereby in circuit through switches 18a and lab, to serve 10 to set the system; thereafter, the object to be as light sources respectively for-the light sensitive measured is interposed between one of the photoelements e and f in the units'A and B, for the electric cells and its source of light, and the elecseparate or joint application of the aforesaid trical efiect developed by the other ofthe photounits. p v q electric cells balanced with that developed by the Each lamp I6 is disposed within the narrow l5 first cell, by varying the exposure surface ofv the neck'bf a reflector l9, comprising an inverted other; the amount of such variation being dihollow rectangular frusto-pyramid section, the

, rectly translatable on a calibrated scale to indiperiph ri s of the ases of which are contiguous, cate the surface area of the article being see Figures 1 to 3, and which provide a support measured. a p for table 20, formed of translucent glass or sim- 20 These and-other advanta es, capabilities and ilar material and extending acrosscabinet Hi to features of the invention will appear from the form a. base for the chamber l2 and the'resp subjoined detailed description of one specific tive units A and B thereof.

embodiment thereof illustrated in the accome ta 20 e s as a Carrier'or DD r panying drawings, in whichthe product P, as for example, a hide or like 25 Figure l is a perspective view of the measuring material, of irregularly d fi ed area, the latter apparatus, r a being maintained in substantially flat position Figure 2 is a front elevation partly in section, thereon by a screen '21, pivoted along one of its taken along lines 2-2 of Figure 1. i side edges to a wall of the cabinet, and controlled Figure 3 is an end elevation partly in ecti for angular movement to permit of insertion of 30 taken along lines 3-3 of Figure 1. the material to be measured by a pulley and Figure 4 is a front elevation of the compensat c u t r alan d v e s F u e 3 An ing device partly in section. v opaque curtain 23 fastened to the cabinet wall I Figure 5 is 9, plan view ofth indicator d vi adjacent the feed door 24 is attached to the other UNITED STATES" PATENT orrl ca 5 on the compensating mechanism, side edge of the screen to minimize dispersion Figure 6 is a dlagrammatical vi w of th ethrough slits or apertures in the feed door of light trical circuit for the light source. rays from the light source entering chamber In.

Figure 7 is a schematic view of the electrical The l t en tive e me s e f o the circuit involved in the functioning of the light units A and B, comprise. photo-electric cells mv m t H mounted centrally on the ceilings thereof, con- 40 Referring to the reference characters in the ll'lected in P el as Shown in Figure 7, for c drawings, numeral l0 represents a cabinet havjoint application in the vent b o the units ing an open base section 'I I, in which is disposed are ,operated w t to P' F of light sources" and an enclosed chamber section area greater than that of thetable section of the 4,5 in which is disposed light- Sammiev elements individual units, or for individual or. separate The walls of the chamber section, '2 ar e of application of one or the other of units A or B, opaque. material, and an opaque curtain but in any event, whether the photo-electric cells are applied jointly or individually, their respec- .tend5 transversely across the center of the cham' tive area ranges extend to the dividing curtain l4 ber section to provide for a plurality of indebetween the units A and 5o pendently functioning units. A and each To cooperate with the photo-electric cell and 8 its Own flensltiveselement acted upon by an light source assembly in the cabinet, and to proassociated li ht source for individual use; f r vide the required balancing medium therefor,

joint use both of the light sensitive elements, there is mounted on a bracket 25 disposed on electrically in parallel, are acted upon by their exterior wall of the cabinet, a compensator'unit B6 screw threaded rod 30, which is acted upon by actuationoisaidiris or shutter and the degree 2f" r 9,149,959 i a. This unit comprises a oontpnmo casing (see- Figures 1 and 4) formed of two concentric cylindrical shells I1 and 20 each closed at one end. and inverted withrespect to one another, shell 28' being reciprocable within shell 21, which forms the body 0! the device. The shell 2! is provided with an arm 2! having a depending threaded nut}! mounted for rotation on bracket 32 extending laterally from fixed shell 21, to cause reciprocation of shell II with respect'to the latter. A photo-electric cells is mounted at the base of shell I'Ljand a lamp h. is mounted at the base of invertedshell II; the lamph being connected through switch 38 in feed line H (see-Figure 6), while the photo-electric cell a is connectedin series with photo-electric cell e of unit a; or in series with parallelly connected photo-electric cells c and I of units. A and 8 upon closing 01" switch ,aai indicated in Figure 7. g

a A galvanometer Kgmounted on the exterior wall of thelcabinet I0 is connected to bridge the circult between photo-electric cell a of'the compensator unit1andcells c and j (of the 'units A and B) alone=or connectedin parallel as above.

; Withinathe, shell -21, and above the photoelectric cello thereof, therefisydisposed it shutter or irisll (see 5 and 'I) having-a control arm .86 and apointerj'l attached thereto, whereby the expomrc surface, of photo-electric cell a may be variedby the actuation oifiajrm 36 to control the luminous flux of light'source h acting on photo-electric cell a, the amount'of of change of the aperture ll defined therebyibeing indicated by the change in position of the pointer ll, onth calibrated dial It formed ona'base of bracket II.

- In operation, with to an object of size 7 to be measured in united and B functionin a jointly; referring to Figures 6 and 7, switches Ila, lib, 33 and 34 arevcl'osed, developing luminous iluxfrom lamp c and d, andgfrom lamp h as light sources acting respectively on photo-electric cells and I. in the measuring units,

and a in the compensator unit; to pre-set the :apparatus shell" of the compensator unit is displacedtbus altering the luminous flux of lamp h (with respect to photo-electric cello, until the voltage developed by cells e and f "onthe one hand and on the other. are equal balanced,

such condition being indicated by a zero reading of the galvanometer K; 7 The apparatus is now pre set, and a hide or like material of irregular area is inserted onto table, II through iced door 24 for measurement.

Bince there hasbeen ablockage of light rays passing from lamp banks 'c and d towards'celis e and I by the interposition of the hide therebetween, the luminous flux acting on cells e and I has been reduced and the voltage developed bythese cells I 'e and. [will be less than that developed by cell 9,

fheretoiore balanced thereagainst, hence, the galvanometer will swing awayifrom' the balanced or ,seroreading; thereupon, the iris or shutter 35 in unit. is actuated bycontrol to vary aperture thereof, resulting in-a reduction ofthehluminous flux from lamp h 1 acting on cell a by the reductions! the'ex'posure surface thereof. until the galvanometer reading again reaches theoriginal reading or'value when .the'apparatus was pre-set,

- Since the dial on the bracket has calibrated, the amount of displacement of the pointer :1 associated with the control is for the iris 'or shutter 35 represents the area of the hide or other material being measured. I

Since the photo-electric cells 0 and I in the measuring units A and B and photo-electric cell a of the compensator unit have been initially balanced, no further adjustment of the light source h with respect tothe cell a need be made, and

successive measuring of the objects carried on: a

through actuation only or the iris or shutter control for the cell a in the compensating chamber, to balance the eflect developed by interposh, tlon ofarticles of varying area in unitsA and/or B.

In .the event an article of small size is to be measured, the switch Ila or ill: is opened, likewise switch 34, leaving, for example, lamp bank on in the feed line and photo-electric cell c in'circuit with photo-electric cell a. In such case' the apparatus will require pro-setting through displacement of lamp hin the compensator unit, after which the operations relative to measurementarecarriedout as heretofore indicated,"

it is cbvious'that-various changes and modi-v flcations may be made to'the details 01 construction without departingfrom the general spirit of second named sensitive element-toxcausethe same "to generate the same voltage-as that of the first named sensitive element underinhuence oil-its source of light, and means associated withsaid second named sensitive element for varying the exposure surface thereof with relation-to the luminous "flux acting 'thereonirom its source of light, and a translating device for indlcatingin unit's-of areathe amount'oi variation face.

described. a photo-electric 'cell, a source ofiight spaced from said cell, a support for material to be measured betweenthe-photo-elew the cell and its source of light, a second photo by said last named'means to said exposure sur.

. 1 4s 2. In an area measuring apparatus of the. class electric cell and a source of light adiustably" spscedthere'from; an electrical circuit incorpo rating said photo-electric cellsin series and agalvanorneter bridged therebetweenpmeans for adjusting the source of light with respect-to said second named cell, whereby to produce a balance in the galvanometer, JtoQpre-set the apparatus, said first named photo-electric cellbeingadapted upon the insertion of. aiengthof material between lt and its light source toalte'r the preset balance of said galvanometer, and means as--' sociated'with said second named photo-electric cell for varying the exposure surface thereof to the luminous flux acting thereon from its ,light sourcevto reattain the pre-set' balance of they galvanoineter and a translating device for in- .dicating in area units theamount of variation imparted by, said last named means to thee:-

, posure surface of saidsecond'name'd photo-'eleotriccelL- f 3. In snares measuring'apparatus of ,described,,a plurality of "light sensitive elements,

each having alight source. associated therewith: said light sensitive elements having I electrical a generating properties, and be l! comlflcmlm.

series, a galvanometer bridging the circuit between said light sensitive elements, the luminous flux developed by the light source associated with the first named sensitive element being maintained at a constant value, means for displacing the light source for the second named light sensitive element to control the luminous flux therefrom acting on such sensitive elements whereby the electrical effects generated by said light sensitive elements and passing through the galvanometer may be balanced and the apparatus pre-set, a support between the first named sensitive element and its light source, upon which an object of irregular surface area to be measured may be interposed, whereby the electrical effects normally generated by such cell under influence of its light source are altered, and a shutter acting on said second named sensitive element for adjustably restricting the exposure surface area thereof acted on by the luminous flux from its light source, while the latter is maintained in pre-set-position, to re-establish the balance in electrical effects generated by the respective light sensitive elements.

4. In an area measuring apparatus of the class described, a plurality of light sensitive elements, each having a light source associated therewith, said light sensitive elements having electrical generating properties, and being connected in series, a galvanometer bridging the circuit between said light sensitive elements, the luminous flux developed by the light source associated with the first named sensitive element being maintained at a constant value, means for displacing the light source for the second named light sensitive element to control the luminous flux therefrom acting on such sensitive element, whereby the electrical effects generated by said light sensitive elements and passing through the galvanometer may be balanced and the apparatus pre-set, a support between the first named sensitive element and its light source, upon which an object of irregular surface area to be measured may be interposed, whereby the electrical effects normally generated by such cell under influence of its light source are altered, and a shutter acting on said second named sensitive element for adjustably restricting the exposure surface area thereof acted on by the luminous flux from its light source, while the latter is maintained in pre-set position, to re-establish the balance incuit incorporating the sensitive elements, means for disposing material to be measured between the first light sensitive element and its source of luminous flux, and means for varying the luminous flux acting on the second named sensitive element to provide for a balance in the circuit of the electrical responses of the respective sensitive elements, and means for translating in area units the amount of variation of the luminous flux acting on the second named sensitive element.

6. In an area measuring apparatus of the class described, a photo-electric cell, a source of light spaced from said cell, a support for disposing material to be measured between the photo-electric cell and its source of light a second photoelectric cell and a source of light adiustably spaced therefrom, an electrical circuit incorporating said photo-electric cells in series and a galvanometer bridged therebetween, means for adjusting the source of light with respect to said second named cell, whereby to produce a balance in the galvanometer, to pre-set the apparatus, said first named photo-electric cell being adapted upon the insertion of a length of material between it and its light source to alter the pre-set balance of said galvanometer, and means associated with said second named photo-electric cell for varying the amount of luminous flux acting thereon from its light source, to reattain the preset balance of the galvanometer and a translating device for indicating in area units the amount of variation imparted by said last named means to the amount of luminous flux acting on said second named photo-electric cell.

MARVIN FOX. 

